It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini | Book Review

Ambitious New York City teenager Craig Gilner is determined to succeed at life – which means getting into the right high school to get into the right college to get the right job. But once Craig aces his way into Manhattan’s Executive Pre-Professional High School, the pressure becomes unbearable. He stops eating and sleeping until, one night, he nearly kills himself. Craig’s suicidal episode gets him checked into a mental hospital, where his new neighbors include a transsexual sex addict, a girl who has scarred her own face with scissors, and the self-elected President Armelio. There, Craig is finally able to confront the sources of his anxiety.


It's Kind of a Funny Story is a contemporary YA novel based around the struggles of adolescents and depression. It follows a teenage boy name Craig Gilner and his struggle with a new school, friends and life in general. With all these pressures he finds happiness in urinating and is always looking for an anchor.

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This novel is centered around depression and a mental hospital, which is a quite serious topic for a YA novel. Even though this is the case, you get to see Craig grow and change from his experience. The author gives this book a comedic edge. These comedic parts take the heaviness of the situation off the reader for a chapter which is a great way to break up the novel.


 The book, even though is about depression, is actually not that depressing. I mean, there were several occasions when tears started to well up in my eyes, but besides that most of the time I was laughing or smiling at something cute taking place. Hey, even cringing at some points! This book was an emotional rollercoaster - in a good way, that is.


Me after finishing this book.
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This novel was amazing and the ending was so sweet (no spoilers) but I loved this novel so much. I found it so real and raw which was a pleasant surprise.
 
 
Similar Books: Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky.